The question of a writing voice sparked today’s About the Author post. I found myself thinking about where my writing voice came from. I credit my writing voice to my boys because writing about them was where my blog started and I loved every second of writing about them so I continued to write. That writing evolved . . .

Another reason I write and read is escapism. Escapism from childhood and later from work . . . I spend a lot of time in reality, sometimes dark reality, and my writing/reading leads out into the light. 

About the author: Shari Marshall
1.     What was your favourite childhood book?

What a good question. I think that depends on what part of childhood we are talking about. My favourite childhood book at the beginning of my reading experiences, when I was still being read to, was Dr Seuss: Green Eggs & Ham, Marvin K Mooney, Cat in the Hat, Hop on Pop and Are you my Mother? At public school age I loved reading Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene, as well as John Saul and Christopher Pike. In University I fell in love with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

2.     What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love hanging out with my family playing board games, soccer, and watching movies. As a solo activity, I love puzzles and reading.

3.     Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Writing energizes me, especially if it has been a productive writing session. I have learned that writing close to bedtime is not good for falling asleep because my brain won’t come out of that creative mode on its own.

About the author’s writing habits:
1.     When did you first realize that you wanted to write a book?

I have always loved writing. It wasn’t something that was encouraged as a career choice when I was growing up so over time life steered me away from it. I started blogging in 2015 and rekindled my passion for words. I realized shortly after that I would love to write a novel.

2.     What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

A writing quirk? Do I have one, a peculiar behaviour or habit related to writing? I’m stumped by this question. I’m sure I do, at least from an external observer, but as a self-assessment no immediate answer is presenting itself.

3.     What’s your favourite writing snack and/or drink?

Coffee and herbal tea are favourite writing drinks. I can’t say that I snack while I write. I’m more inclined to get caught up in the process and forget to eat until my stomach starts loudly protesting.

4.     Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I consider myself to be a bit of a plotter and a bit of a pantser. I credit my process to Janet Evanovich because when I first sat down to write my novel, I read some “How I Write” books by some authors that I enjoy reading. In Janet’s book called, How I Write, she talks about her process stating that she knows her novels beginning and end as well as a couple points in the middle. That’s where she starts. So, I have adopted that process and added to it a bit. So, I start with my beginning, end, and a few middle points but once I start writing I find it helps me to do a point form outline of what I want in the chapter I plan to write next. So, I fly by the seat of my pants (a bit) and then when I come up against a chapter I outline what I need it to look like and off I go.

In relation to The Ember Stone:
1.     Where did my story idea come from?

Honestly, my life. I have known some wild people and I have/had some bizarre family/friends (the best kinds). Throw in some “what is happening” or “what is this”, a bit of imagination, and a somewhat skewed humour and you have my recipe.

2.     How long did it take to write The Ember Stone?

That’s a hard question because I had started writing it, but stopped for a year or more. Then I started writing again, but it just didn’t feel right. I was writing a story without magic. So, I added in the magic and the words flowed. So, from the point that the writing flowed until the end of the rough manuscript was about eleven months.

3.     How do you select the names of your characters?

Names, I love them. I loved naming every one of my pets, and Ioved naming my children. I love names, did I mention that. So, coming up with names for my characters in The Ember Stone involved a bit of name research and then a bit of deciding if I liked how the name felt on its own and when I associated to the character I was developing.

4.     How did publishing your first book change your writing process?

After publishing The Ember Stone my desire to write increased. It feels almost addictive. As many authors say, there are all these stories rolling around in my brain that I want to get out. I used to get bogged down by them and I would start one story and stop before finishing it because another idea would come along that I was terrified I would forget. However, when I switched stories, I didn’t go back to the one I had previously started. Now that I have felt the positive impact of finishing a story until the end, I stay the course when I start and I have since finished a rough manuscript for Book 2 of The Ember Files and started writing a side story. I learned that the ideas rolling around in my brain will continue to roll even if I don’t pull them out right away.

The big question:
1.     Will there be another story for Kori Ember?

Well, right now there is one published story, and one being edited. So, there are going to be two Kori Ember stories for sure. I have plans to make a third, but I haven’t started to write it yet. The ideas for the beginning and end of a third story are rolling around in my head waiting for me to let them splash down onto the paper . . . The story that I am writing right now isn’t about Kori, but it is related to The Ember Files.